Mormon Church backs deal to allow Medical Marijuana in Utah

The Mormon Church extended its support to a deal Thursday that would legalize medical marijuana in conservative Utah.

The church’s support to push medical marijuana forward came after months of fierce debate. It joined the lawmakers, the governor and advocates more the move even if a November ballot initiative fails.

Gov. Gary Herbert is slated have a discussion with all the lawmakers during a special session after the Nov. 6 election to pass the compromise into law.

The deal differs from the ballot initiative by removing a provision that would allow people to grow their own marijuana if they live too far from a dispensary and limiting the types of edible marijuana that would be available.

On the other hand, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints opposed the ballot measure, leaders also made first-ever public statement supporting the use of medical marijuana if prescribed by a doctor and dispensed by a pharmacy.

The medical marijuana is currently legal in more than 30 states. However, the recreational marijuana will go before voters of Michigan and North Dakota this November. If passed, it will be a first for a Midwestern state.

Smoking marijuana would not be allowed under the ballot proposal, but the edible forms, lotions or electronic cigarettes will be allowed.